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Representing the First District of Maryland

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Immigration

As the child of immigrants, I recognize that legal immigrants have always been important to America. However, porous borders and inefficient bureaucrats enable undocumented aliens to enter our country illegally and even legal temporary visa holders to overstay their visas. Illegal immigration undermines the American workforce and creates real national security risks for the United States.

Securing our border is the first step to ending illegal immigration into the United States, and can be accomplished through increasing and empowering our border patrol, using advanced technology, and building physical barriers where necessary. Maintaining a secure border also requires better tracking of immigrants’ visas to cut down on the number of visa overstays.

More on Immigration

WASHINGTON, DC: On July 25, the House Appropriations Committee passed the FY19 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, its final bill for this year. This bill includes $17.8 billion in discretionary funds for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and $7.4 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Included in CBP’s funding is $5 billion for border security assets and infrastructure. This funding will be used to construct more than 200 miles of new physical barrier construction along the southern border and to invest in new border security technology. Congressman Andy Harris, M.D.

WASHINGTON, DC: On June 28, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) sent a letter to Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler concerning the County Executive’s position on illegal immigration and border security. Congressman Harris sent this letter after County Executive Mohler wrote to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, expressing disdain for the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Congressman Harris made the following statement regarding the letter:

WASHINGTON, DC: On June 26, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) sent a bipartisan letter, signed by 82 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristjen Nielsen in support of the H-2B visa program. The letter urges the Department of Homeland Security to issue additional H-2B nonimmigrant temporary workers visas, in response to historically high demand for H-2B visas this year. These visas are used by seasonal industries, including the Eastern Shore’s seafood processing industry, when businesses are unable to find American workers.

WASHINGTON, DC: On June 26, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of President Trump in the case Trump v. Hawaii. The ruling maintains that President Trump acted lawfully in his executive order to restrict travel from nations that have failed to meet enhanced visa security requirements. Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) issued the following statement in support of the decision:

WASHINGTON, DC: On June 18, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) released the following statement regarding the catch-and-release immigration policy and the holding of individuals seeking asylum in the United States:

Rep. Andy Harris met with business owners impacted by a shortage of crab pickers Wednesday afternoon to hear their problems and pose long-term solutions -- and got an earful.

Congress and the Trump administration tightened the guest worker visa program. Because demand is so high, the Trump administration imposed a lottery to award them. It is keeping Mexican workers from making their seasonal trek to Maryland -- and many Eastern Shore businesses are feeling pinched.

WOOLFORD — Dorchester County crab meat processors recently received a glimmer of hope in an effort to save the Maryland crab season and the entire state crab industry.

Traditionally, Dorchester crab meat processors apply for federal H-2B visas for about 500 guest, seasonal workers, who in the past have come from Mexico.

But with a surge in H-2B applications associated with the rebuild of Texas after last hurricane season, the program, which is capped at 66,000 visas (33,000 for six months), used a lottery to give out visas.